Hypoglycemia Forum - Hypo Questions.

Conditions and Diseases > Hypoglycemia Forum > Hypo Questions.

Q: Hypo Questions.

asked by: Rae17 on October 22nd, 2006

New User

Hey folks.

Some of you may recognise me, I came here a few months ago looking for info on hypo as I suspected I had it.

Well, I (finally) went to the docs and it turns out I was right, I do have hypo.

So, I have a few questions for anyone who can, or would be happy to answer.

My first question is rather difficult for me to explain, but i'll try.

When your blood sugar starts to drop, and you get the shakes and sweats, is it something that will rapidly get worse and worse and worse, or, will it be kinda slow to progress?

Also, what would happen if, and how would I know (apart from the shaking and sweats) when my blood sugar was dropping dangerously low.

I only ask because, from what i've read from the internet (some sites aren't reliable I know, which is why i'm asking here, a site I trust) it seems that hypo symptoms developed suddently and rapidly deteriorate. Only, from what I myself have experienced, I can last all day (from morning till late evening) with hypo symptoms without getting very bad. I'll have shakyness and sweats, and sometimes i'll get a small headache in the afternoon, but apart from that, I don't get bad with it, even though I havn't eaten anything all day. I only know this because I can't always eats breakfast in the morning (due to getting up too late) and I have a really strange phobia of eating in public, so if I skip breakfast, I don't eat anything all day until i'm home.

Secondly, can hypoglycemia come on after excersize?

Thirdly, most mornings, I wake up shaky, but this is confusing me because every night I wake up because I need something to drink, so I always keep a bottle of cola by my side so I can drink it at night. Wouldn't drinking the cola at night keep my sugar levels up? So how come I wake up shaky?

Also, I know i'm supposed to eat carbohydrates, but whenever I look for things with carbohydrates in, most of the carbs are just sugar and as far as I know, I need to cut down on sugar. I know I should probably follow stan's diet, but it's so difficult and confusing and I don't think I could ever stick to a specific diet.

I know there's alot of questions there, but i'll be really greatful to anyone who answers. Thanks. Smile

oh, and one more question (sorry). Is a drink (say an actimel drink) enough to get rid of my symptoms in the morning and to last me all day without the symptoms?

Thanks again!

Replies(9)

Stan

replied on October 23rd, 2006

Moderator

Here are the answers:

1. It depends what you've been eating that's caused the reaction. Plain sugar will cause a seriously quick drop whereas too much bread may cause a reaction a few hours later. Also depends on how sensitive your body is to begin with.

2. First thing you usually experience is some sort of mental symptom, especially anxiety, or physical symptoms that resemble having the flu.

3. You feel better not eating because your body doesn't have anything to cause it to drop down.

4. Hypoglycemia can come after exercising if you haven't gotten used to a routine that fits your current recovery status or are just careless.

5. You feel shaky because you're drinking cola which you must never drink! What's happening is you're getting rid of the low, but then your body overcompensates for the level of sugar you just gave it and you feel worse in the process. Keep doing that and you're going to end up really sick. If you are wakeful at night, only have some form of protein, nothing else!

6. Unfortunately you have to face the facts for awhile. You don't have to do my diet, but you need some sort of routine that gives you a carbohydrate level that's satisfactory to your needs and isn't too high or includes anything that you shouldn't be eating. Soda is out of the question, never touch it again. It takes some work at first, but the results you'll get are well worth it.

7. I don't know what actimel is.

Rae17

replied on October 26th, 2006

New User

Thank you stan

don't get me wrong, I think your diet is excellent and has helped many people, it's just, i've never been on any type of diet, so i'm finding it difficult to get used to the fact that i'll always have to monitor/check what i'm getting before I buy/eat it. It's difficult when i'm out because i'll often go buy a drink or something from a shop without even thinking about hypo only to find i'm shaky and sweaty sometime later. It's more an annoyance than anything right now.

I'll admit im a chocolate and cola addict and I have no idea how i'm gonna cut these things out. Especially cola. I drink it everyday.

Anyways, thank you for answering my questions Smile

I have just one more small question, which I just remembered, if you don't mind.

Can hypoglycemia cause digestive/stomach problems?

Stan

replied on October 26th, 2006

Moderator

Oh yeah, that's another big problem. The main reason is that the intestinal tract also utilizes serotonin, among other chemicals, to run properly. That's why when people take anti-depressants they sometimes cause stomach problems, it's because too much serotonin is being drawn away from the digestive tract. But yes, these symptoms are common. Plain sheep's milk yogurt or a small tincture of slippery elm bark will clear that crap up real quick. And I know what you mean, it sucks having to follow a schedule, but once you get used to it it's not a big deal. My only concern is that you seem to be eating a pretty high sugar diet right, going straight into the correct program may make the recovery symptoms horrible so you may in fact need to cut back progressively before getting into it. Going cold turkey may be disastrous in your case.

sandyallen

replied on October 26th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

Just a quick question, their is a fairly new cell energy drink that does not contain sugar but it does contain steevia and it is called .A.C.T it is mixed with water is it okay?
Thank you in advance for your answer!

Stan

replied on October 27th, 2006

Moderator

I've heard about stevia, and though i've never used it, I believe that like xylitol it has almost no glycemic index whatsoever, so it should be fine.

Rae17

replied on October 28th, 2006

New User

stan stepanic wrote:

plain sheep's milk yogurt or a small tincture of slippery elm bark will clear that crap up real quick

now there are two things which i've never heard of before, but if they help with the stomach problems, i'll definitely search for them. I'm not sure if my local supermarkets will sell these things or not though and this is one of the reasons why I say it's difficult for me to go on a diet. Many of the stores here don't cater for those of us who are on (or should be on) strict diets.

And yes, you're right, I am on a high sugar diet. It's quite shameful really. And I guess hypoglycemia is the price I pay for not taking better care of myself and allowing myself to over induldge on sugar.

I'll follow your advice and slowly ween myself off cola and chocolate.

Does this mean I have to cut out all sugar completely? Including sugars that occur naturally in food? (sorry for all the questions, only I can't find this info else where. My doc just said "eat more carbohydrates" and that's literally it)

Stan

replied on October 28th, 2006

Moderator

Eat more carbohydrates? What an fool. It rarely works. Ummm, no, you can't avoid the sugar in everything because there is naturally occuring sugar in nearly everything you eat, including vegetables. What you need to do is cut it back so that the only sugar you're getting is coming from healthy food, mainly fruits and vegetables. Do you have a whole foods where you live or a health food store? I'm sure there has to be something somewhere. If so, they should have the sheep's milk yogurt. It's not that easy to find. Technically you can try any type of plain yogurt (nothing added at all!), but cow and goat milk yogurt have way more carbohydrates and most of it is converted quickly into sugar so it may not be best. But then again, considering how high in sugar your diet is, it may eventually be a nice substitute for you. Slippery elm bark is best if purchased in powdered form, not capsules. You just take a little pinch of it, add just a small amount of boiling water, let it sit, stir vigorously, and then add just a small amount of cold water to make it warm and drink it down. It coats the stomach and intestines with this mucous like matter that helps heal it and keep it calm.

Rae17

replied on October 28th, 2006

New User

Alright! Thank you loads stan Smile

i'm sure there probably are some health food stores or something, I just never bothered looking before. My main concern with a health food store though is that they're costly and being a college student, I have very little money.

But, I will try to find another store other than my local super market. I know I have to start eating right, my hypo is all over the place. It's starting to affect my college work. Some days, I can't even draw because the shaking is so bad. So I need to get it under control.

And yeah, my doctor wasn't very helpful at all to be honest. She never took the time to explain anything to me. Just a quick "you have hypoglycemia; eat more carbs" and then she sent me on my way. I was left rather confused.

Anyways, thank you again. You've been a great help!

Stan

replied on October 28th, 2006

Moderator

Sure, glad to help! I hope the diet gets you under wraps as soon as possible! Come here with any questions.

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